Tompkins grant fund to help recovery

The Tompkins County Legislature has established a $6.5 million fund to help organizations, governments and small businesses recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The legislature announced Thursday that applications will be taken through Oct. 31 from non-profits, small businesses, small educational institutions, health-care providers and government entities.

Grants would be for $10,000 or more and details on eligibility and requirements are available at www.tompkinscountyny.gov/communityrecoveryfund.

Three information sessions will outline the program:

• A webinar Wednesday by the Tompkins County Human Services Coalition focused on non-profit applicants.
• A webinar Sept. 23 by the Tompkins County Chamber, Ithaca Area Economic Development and Downtown Ithaca Alliance on small-business applicants.
• A general session Sept. 23 in-person at the Tompkins County Public Library.

23 cases reported in Cortland County
Cortland County reported 23 cases of COVID-19 on Friday, raising the number of confirmed cases since the pandemic began to 12,190, the state Health Department reports.

Tompkins and Cayuga counties reported 48 new cases, the state reported Friday. The three counties have seen 54,992 cases since the pandemic began in March 2020. The number of people who have died from the virus remains 382.

• No new COVID patients were admitted to Guthrie Cortland Medical Center on Wednesday, the state Health Department reported Friday. The hospital had four COVID patients. Since the pandemic began, 733 Cortland County residents have been hospitalized for COVID; that figure was last updated Sept. 2. The state Health Department reports 297,840 tests have been administered. The state has reported 128 deaths.
• Tompkins County saw 32 new cases, the state Health Department reported Friday. The number of confirmed cases rose to 24,201. The state reports 3,045,047 tests have been administered. Ninety-one Tompkins residents have died.
• Cayuga County saw 16 new cases, the state Health Department reported Friday. Confirmed cases rose to 18,601. The state reports 380,971 tests have been administered, and 163 people have died.

Cortland rate at 141 per 100,000
Cortland County had 67 new cases of COVID-19 between Sept. 1 and Wednesday, giving it a rate of 140.81 cases per 100,000 people, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.

It had a “low” risk, under CDC guidelines. Under metrics and guidance from the CDC — which take into account the number of new cases in a week, the number of hospitalizations and hospital capacity:

• In counties with a “high risk,” wearing a mask in indoor public places is still recommended.
• In counties with a “medium risk,” people with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask. People at a high risk for severe illness should consult their healthcare provider about the need for a mask or other precautions.
• In counties with a “low risk,” no additional precautions beyond staying up to date with vaccines and getting tested if one has symptoms are recommended.

The rates and risk, from the CDC:
Cortland: 140.81 — low
Tompkins: 148.76 — low
Cayuga: 126.67 — medium
Onondaga: 108.79 — medium
Broome: 164.31 — medium
Chenango: 108.03 — low
Tioga: 143.14 — medium
Madison: 94.44 — medium